Off the coast of northwest Greenland, an enormous iceberg is beginning to go to pieces.

The huge ice chunk, named PII-2012, was originally part of the Petermann Glacier, but broke away from the glacier in mid-July in a process called calving.

By the end of July the Manhattan-size chunk of ice had nearly reached the mouth of a fjord that opens on the Nares Strait, a narrow stretch of ocean that separates Greenland from Canada.

Now it's made its way into the strait, and has begun to break into several large pieces that could act as hazards for ships negotiating the narrow water body.

NASA's Terra satellite captured this natural-color image on Sept. 13, which shows the main berg and two smaller fragments. This iceberg calved along a rift on the Petermann Glacier that had been visible in satellite imagery for several years.

The Petermann Glacier and other glaciers wind through Greenland's ice sheet, acting like slow-moving conveyor belts. They move ice from the middle of the frigid island to the sea, where they eventually give birth to enormous icebergs like this one.

Live Science Staff

For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.